How to Get Rid of thumbs.db? Thumbs.db is a system file that stores previews of the images you save in a folder. It is automatically generated by Windows 10 (or earlier) and is supposed to be hidden, but sometimes it can appear and get in your way.
There is a file called Thumbs.db in almost every folder on my computer. What is it and how to delete thumbs.db files in Windows 10 or Windows 7?
This is a cache that contains copies of each of the small preview images generated for the files in that folder. By saving these previews instead of constantly regenerating them, the system saves resources and the images load quickly the next time you browse that folder.
Despite Thumbs.db is a hidden system file, annoys people because it tends to appear in places where it is not wanted. Many times you will try to zip up a folder full of images and email them to a friend or upload them to an FTP site, and Thumbs.db goes with it.
How to Get Rid of thumbs.db? Is it safe to delete Thumbs.db?
Yes, you can safely get rid of these files. Doing so will not harm your computer. It will simply force Windows to regenerate all preview images the next time you browse a folder in thumbnail or filmstrip mode. They can be deleted like any other file: Drag them to the Recycle Bin or right-click and choose «Remove«.
Can I hide them from view?
Yes, thumbnail caches are classified as system files and therefore can be hidden.
- Click Start
- Click Computer/My Computer
- Click Tools on the menu bar.
- Go to the View tab.
- In the “Advanced settings” box, scroll down to “Hidden files and folders”.
- Choose “Do not show hidden files and folders”.
Can I prevent Thumbs.db from coming back?
If you don’t mind long load times when rendering an Explorer thumbnail or a filmstrip view filled with many (or big) files, performing the following steps will prevent your computer from generating future Thumbs.db files.
- Click Start
- Double click Control Panel
- Double-click on Folder Options
- The “Folder Options” window will open.
- Click the View tab
- Check the circle next to Do not cache thumbnails
- Click the OK button
Remove Thumbs.db and Desktop.ini from a Mac
Let’s say you share the files on your Mac with a Windows user over a network. Depending on your configuration, your Windows PCs can generate tons of files Thumbs.db on your Mac as the user navigates. It can be frustrating to remove them one by one, so use spotlight to remove them all at once:
- Click the Spotlight search icon in the menu bar (or press CMD-Space).
- Click on “Thumbs.db”
- Click on “Show all in Finder”
- Sort the results by the “Name” column so that all thumbnail caches are listed consecutively.
- Click once on the first Thumbs.db file.
- Hold down the Shift key and click once on the last one.
- All intermediate files will be highlighted.
- Drag them to the trash.
- Repeat for Desktop.ini
